Boys Circumcised after First Birthday 'Have Up to 20 Times Greater Risk of Side Effects'

There has been debate about whether male circumcision should be considered a public health action.Reuters/Ronen Zvulun

The risk of side effects following male circumcision increase by up to 20 times if the procedure is carried out after the boy turns one year old, a new study suggests.

Professor Charbel El Bcheraoui, author of the research published in the Jama Network Journals, found that the risk of side effects among babies less than a year old is 0.5%. However, the risk becomes ten to 20 times higher after this age.

Side-effects of circumcision include pain, bruising and swelling of the skin around the penis, formation of abnormal scar tissue and damage of urethra. Circumcision is also believed by some to have negative effects on sexual health.

The biggest immediate benefit is to protect against urinary tract infections (UTIs) that can damage the kidney – a condition that affects one in three uncircumcised boys - while researchers also found circumcision had no adverse effect on sexual function, sensitivity or pleasure.

It has also been suggested that male circumcision can protect against the contraction of HIV.

"Given the current debate about whether MC should be delayed from infancy to adulthood for autonomy reasons, our results are timely and can help physicians counsel parents about circumcising their sons," El Bcheraoui said.